Cockerels herding pullets

[alessadry]

Hello,
I was wondering about the behavior of cockerels. I raised chickens before but now for the first time I got cockerels. Currently, I have 14 pullets and 2 cockerels who are 4 months old. So far so good, both cockerels get along well and work together as a team. They even sleep together at night!

Lately, if I have a couple of chickens around me, they come running and try to herd them away. I am not sure if they are herding them away from us or just because they like to have all the pullets together. in one spot so that they're easier to keep an eye on.

I see them sometimes go herd some chickens separated from the flock at times when I am not there, so assume this is normal behavior or if it's a sign of distrust? Am I interfering with their job by entertaining the chickens? The cockerels come nearby and herd them away if they can and open their wings a couple of times, but if the chickens are too stubborn to return, the cockerels leave and come back running towards us later to try again.

Today a pullet hopped onto my lap. One cockerel came pretty close, looking at us. I looked at him, he turned his head away. The other cockerel was a bit behind with one leg raised up like a pointing dog. The one close to us said something in rooster language and the pullet answered. It sounded like "come on, come joins us" and the pullet "no I am having fun right now."

After he left again, the pullet jumped off my lap and returned even though slowly at her own pace as if to make a point that she comes when she wants to.

 

[eggbert420]

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi

My cockerel does the same. I think they're competing for the girls and see us as competition. It's natural behavior.

You'll get many opinions on how to handle it from folks here. Hope you enjoy your boys

 

[alessadry]

Thanks, good to hear we are not alone, we have been enjoying watching them, they are nice to look at, but we are having a bit some regrets of having cockerels. When we had only pullets, things were rather calm. The pullets loved being around us and followed us around.

With these cockerels it's as if the majority of the pullets are nervous to be near us because the cockerels are so scared of everything and jumpy as they see threats everywhere.

Odd thing is that just a couple of months back, the cockerels were the friendliest things on earth, hopping in our laps and shoulders. Once the hormones hit, we turned from friends to people they do not trust. When they see us they sort of try to avoid us.

We really miss having the pullets around and getting to enjoy their company! We got cockerels because we wanted our flock to be protected from possible hawks but not from us!!!!!! How can we gain more trust from them if they are really trying to keep them away from us? Maybe tossing him a treat or two when he comes to check on us?

 

[monnarush]

This post is older but seems to fit my observations the best. I would like everyone opinion or if they have seen this behavior in chickens before.
Our flock is now almost 3 months old. There are 8 Welsummers, 7 Easter Eggers, and 1 Production Red. (1 rooster WS, and the rest are hens). They live in a coop and run situation no free range time. At dusk when its time to go into the coop for the night the rooster attempts to heard the hens into the coop, he usually is successful at getting 1/2 to 3/4 of them into the coop before he gives up and goes in himself. Then my White Easter Egger will take up the cause and start herding the remainder of the hens into the coop. This takes several tries and when she has the last hen in she will go in and come back out several times to survey the run area and seems to be looking to make sure she has everyone in the coop before going to roost herself. This has been going on for over a month now so it is not just coincidence. Thanks in advance for any insight into this behavior and is it normal, I assume so. I think its very cool, and want to learn much more about flock dynamics. Enjoying observing my flock in WV

 

[andreanar]

One of the reasons we got rid of our Cockerals was because the alpha cock was keeping the girls away from us. They were raised as day olds and were handled daily. They were so friendly until Big Boy cockerel got older, then he started doing the same as yours: herding the girls away from us, keeping himself between us, then he finally attacked. Once we got rid of the boys, the girls became just as friendly as they were before.

 

[igorsMistress]

Thanks, good to hear we are not alone, we have been enjoying watching them, they are nice to look at, but we are having a bit some regrets of having cockerels. When we had only pullets, things were rather calm. The pullets loved being around us and followed us around.

With these cockerels it's as if the majority of the pullets are nervous to be near us because the cockerels are so scared of everything and jumpy as they see threats everywhere.

Odd thing is that just a couple of months back, the cockerels were the friendliest things on earth, hopping in our laps and shoulders. Once the hormones hit, we turned from friends to people they do not trust. When they see us they sort of try to avoid us.

We really miss having the pullets around and getting to enjoy their company! We got cockerels because we wanted our flock to be protected from possible hawks but not from us!!!!!! How can we gain more trust from them if they are really trying to keep them away from us? Maybe tossing him a treat or two when he comes to check on us?

Treats. My birds LOVE raisins and fresh meal worms. Even Emmett will eat them from my hand. I have been hand feeding since the first day though.

Emmett was friendly until he started crowing, now he's standoffish and only accepts certain stuff from me. Rotten bird will stand right in front of me and act like HE found treats and call the girls, but they know better

I also make it a point to spend a little time with them when they go to roost, and usually end the day with some wattle scratches and a raisin or two.

 

[alessadry]

This post is older but seems to fit my observations the best. I would like everyone opinion or if they have seen this behavior in chickens before.
Our flock is now almost 3 months old. There are 8 Welsummers, 7 Easter Eggers, and 1 Production Red. (1 rooster WS, and the rest are hens). They live in a coop and run situation no free range time. At dusk when its time to go into the coop for the night the rooster attempts to heard the hens into the coop, he usually is successful at getting 1/2 to 3/4 of them into the coop before he gives up and goes in himself. Then my White Easter Egger will take up the cause and start herding the remainder of the hens into the coop. This takes several tries and when she has the last hen in she will go in and come back out several times to survey the run area and seems to be looking to make sure she has everyone in the coop before going to roost herself. This has been going on for over a month now so it is not just coincidence. Thanks in advance for any insight into this behavior and is it normal, I assume so. I think its very cool, and want to learn much more about flock dynamics. Enjoying observing my flock in WV

My flock does the same thing. Cockerel wants all the pullets in when he feels the coop is safe. He goes in only once the majority of the pullets are in. Some left behind go in later but they tend to go back and forth in and out for some time before settling themselves. Sometimes they have a bit of discussions on where to roost or one bully pullet is preventing another from going in., but eventually they all are in by 8:00 PM.

 

[alessadry]

One of the reasons we got rid of our Cockerals was because the alpha cock was keeping the girls away from us. They were raised as day olds and were handled daily. They were so friendly until Big Boy cockerel got older, then he started doing the same as yours: herding the girls away from us, keeping himself between us, then he finally attacked. Once we got rid of the boys, the girls became just as friendly as they were before.

I so hope he won't get to the point of attacking! I will have some treats handy for when he comes to check. I want him to get the message I won't be hurting the girls and that they're in good hands. Thing is, this rooster is hypervigilant, and he hates when we clean the coop and even use the broom to clean. He starts making these panicky sounds like he's just laid an egg and paces far at the end of the yard with all the hens following him. I think these things make us automatically not trustworthy in his eyes.

 

[alessadry]

Treats. My birds LOVE raisins and fresh meal worms. Even Emmett will eat them from my hand. I have been hand feeding since the first day though.

Emmett was friendly until he started crowing, now he's standoffish and only accepts certain stuff from me. Rotten bird will stand right in front of me and act like HE found treats and call the girls, but they know better

I also make it a point to spend a little time with them when they go to roost, and usually end the day with some wattle scratches and a raisin or two.

Yup mine were hand fed since babies. Just a month ago he was sleeping on our laps and super happy to be around us. He will still eat from my hand, but only some things. I will try to give him treats when he comes check on us. Does your cockerel also herd the girls away from you?